Kirstie Nicols works in sales but hopes to become a journalist. The big event This past week has been pretty busy; both at work and out of it. I’ve had very little time to think about everything that’s happened…one reason why writing a blog is so useful!
A couple of months ago, after very efficiently helping to sort out a birthday celebration for someone at work, I somehow got promoted (the type that doesn’t come with a pay rise) to events manager, and was asked to organise a company night out at the dogs. In my infinite wisdom I arranged the night out on a Thursday; and more precisely, last Thursday. This meant that the entire week was taken up with queries about what to wear, what to bring, how we were getting there, if betting could be paid for on the company card, and, of course, who was paying for the drinks. When I wasn’t answering the same question many times over, I was booking hotel rooms for my bosses, and trying to work out exactly who was and wasn’t coming; right up until the day itself. The night turned out to be a great success; I even managed to win 20p (although I lost £4). Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves; the driver was friendly, the food was good, the disco was cheesy and I still haven’t asked my boss what the bar tab was. For some of us, the night continued to be good…right up until 5am the following morning. Therefore, Friday was spent in a room full of people suffering appalling headaches every time the phone rang, with a boss who had left the dogs early enough to be able to point and laugh every time someone moaned about lack of sleep. Getting home after work was an effort in itself, and I have never felt happier to crawl into bed. Meet the music criticOn a completely different topic; this week I was also commissioned to write my first ever freelance article! It’s only a short piece for my local newspaper, and it will involve a bit of research, but it’s a great start! I’ll be writing a review of a local band I’ve never heard of (although the editor now thinks I’m their number 1 fan; I was so desperate for him to give me something that I would have told him I was a expert in anything). He wanted it to be written by someone my age, as he is considering making it regular; a younger generation’s view on the local area. So I have been spending many hours reading up in preparation for the gig tomorrow night; I’m quietly optimistic that if it all goes well and he likes what I’ve written, he might let me write it each week! It is also the Great South Run this weekend; in fact by the time you read this I will have run it, most likely collapsed towards the end, and will probably still be recovering from exhaustion. I have been spending a few panicky hours every couple of days going running, as the image of myself coming last creeps into my head. I have found, however, that running on the road in the cold and wet is not nearly as nice as running on a treadmill in a dry, air-conditioned gym. I no longer have a time in which I want to complete it, and as long as I get round in one piece without bursting into tears I’ll be happy. Round the housesAlong with the work-do organising, the researching and the running, I am also now being taken to view houses with the friends I’m planning to move in with. Personally, I like to think I’m not that fussy; as long as I have room to sleep in, a TV to watch and a kitchen full of alcohol I’ll be fine. It’s turning out, however, that not everyone is like that. If it’s close to where everyone works, then it’s too close to the road. If there’s room for parking then there’s no garden for that all important cat/dog/rabbit/chicken we absolutely have to have. If it’s perfect in every possible way, then the rent is too much. A bedroom is too small, or the bathroom isn’t big enough, or there’s not enough storage. I’m sure, once we all move in it will all be fine, but until then… So the past couple of weeks seem to have flown by with the amount of things that have been going on. I’m looking forward to everything going back to a nice, normal pace after the weekend. Apart from my run, there’s only one last thing left on the calendar. This Friday night is a leaving party for a long-timer at work, although what with my recent experience and the run this Sunday I most likely shouldn’t drink. Well, maybe just the one… Read Kirstie's previous blogs |
